Karni Mata

 

Karni Mata

Karni Mata (Hindi: करणी माता or Maa Karni or Karniji) (Karni Mata is also referred to as Mehaai) (C. 2 October 1387 – c. 23 March 1538,) was a female Hindu warrior sage born in the Charan caste. Also known as Shri Karniji Maharaj, she is worshiped as the incarnation of the warrior goddess Hinglaj by her followers. She is an official deity of the royal families of Bikaner and Jodhpur. She lived an ascetic life and was widely revered during her own lifetime. On the request of the Maharajas of Bikaner and Jodhpur, she laid the foundation stones of Bikaner Fort and Mehrangarh Fort, the two most important forts in the region. The most famous of her temples is in the small town of Deshnoke, near Bikaner in Rajasthan, and was created following her mysterious disappearance from her home. The temple is famous for its rats locally known as kabas, which are treated as sacred and given protection in the temple. Another temple dedicated to her during her lifetime differs from others in that it does not contain an image or idol of her, but rather a footprint to symbolize her visit to that place. Karni Mata is also known as "dadhi wali dokri" or Dadhali ("beard bearing old lady"). There is one more famous temple, situated at Khurad, near Besroli railway station. This temple of Maa Karni, Indrabaisa was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner. Karnini Mata laid the foundation stone of Mehrangarh fort during reign of Rao Jodha. By the orders of her, Rao Jodha's son Rao Bika founded new city Bikaner (state at that time).

Karni
Other names	Riddhi Bai
Devanagari	करणी माता
Affiliation	Charans, Rajpurohits and Rajputs
Abode	Western Rajasthan(Marwar and Bikaner)
Weapon	Trident
Mount	Lion and Flanked by Eagle
Personal Information
Parents	Meha ji Charan & Deval Bai
Spouse	Depa ji Charan
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Bikaner
Deity	Durga
Location
Location	Deshnoke
State	Rajasthan
Country	India

Biography

According to tradition, Karni Mata (Riddhi Bai) was daughter of Meha ji, residing at Suwap village. And she was married to Depa ji Charan, residing in the village of Sathika. However, she later expressed unwillingness to her husband to engage in conjugal relations. He initially humoured her, thinking that she would relent in time. Instead, Karni arranged for him to marry her younger sister, Gulab, so that he might have a proper married life. She herself remained celibate all her life with the agreement and support of her husband, who died in 1454.

 

Maa Karni lived in her husband's village for about two years before leaving with her followers and a herd of cattle, to live a nomadic life. She and her followers once made camp at the village of Jangloo. A servant of Rao Kanha who was ruler of Jangloo denied Karni, her followers, and their cattle access to water. Karni Mata declared her follower, Rao Ridmal of Chandasar, the new ruler of the village and continued on her journey. Karni Mata stopped wandering further and settled at village, near Bikaner - Deshnok.

 

Once a devotee Jagadu or Jhagdu Shah, a gujarati trader was sailing in sea, and was stuck in sea storm. Then he called Maa Karni from his small ship, and was helped while she was milking cow at her home. And get him reached Porbandar port. After reaching safely, Jhagadu shah came to Maa Karni for thanksgiving her kindness, and told his wish to construct temple. Then Karni Mata told him to construct temple at Porbandar as Harsiddhi temple.

 

Her favorite son Lakhan (son of her sister Gulab Bai) went to the nearby village of Kolayat to the yearly kartik fair with friends, but he was drowned in Kapil Sarovar, and died. When she saw his body, and her sister started crying, Karni Mata took his body in to a room and locked herself in. When she came out, she came out with Lakham who was alive. People assume that she fought with Dharmraj, the Lord of death who told her that from that time, her descendants will become kabas (rats) after death, and kabas will become human after death, respectively. So the temple of Deshnok is also famous as the temple of the kabas.

 

In 1453, she gave her blessing to Rao Jodha of Jodhpur for conquering Ajmer, Merta and Mandor. In 1457, she went to Jodhpur at Rao Jodha's request, to lay the cornerstone of the Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur.

 

Her first temple was constructed in the village of Mathania during her lifetime by her follower Amara Charan. In 1472, she arranged the marriage between Rao Bika and Rang Kunwar. Rao Bika was the fifth son of Rao Jodha, and Rang Kunwar was the daughter of Rao Shekha of Pungal. The marriage was arranged to turn the enmity of the Rathore and Bhati families into friendship.

 

In 1485, she laid the foundation stone of the fort of Bikaner at the request of Rao Bika.

 

In 1538, Karni Ji went to visit the Maharaja of Jaisalmer.

 

On 21 March 1538, she travelled back to Deshnok with her son (son of Gulab Bai), Poonja, and a few other followers. They were near Gadiyala and Girirajsar of the Kolayat tehsil, in Bikaner district, when she asked the caravan to stop for water. It was reported that she disappeared there at the age of 151 years.

 

In Rajasthan, the goddess Karni Mata is believed to protect the cows and Krishna Saara Mriga (blackbuck).

 

Karni Mata Temples

Mathania

The first temple of Karni Mata was built by Amarji Barhath, who received Mathania as a Jagir from the ruler of Marwar, Rao Jodha. Karni Mata stopped at Mathania and gave her padukaayein to be placed inside the temple, which is still worshipped by the population, specially the lineage of Amar Ji Barath, called Amarawat. The ancient existence of Mathania run parallel to the founding stone of the Mehrangarh Fort.

 

Deshnoke

The most famous temple dedicated to Karni Mata is at Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner. It is also known as the Temple of Rats.

 

Udaipur

Another temple dedicated to Karni Mata is Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata Temple or Karni Mata, Udaipur, located on the Machla Hills, near Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Park in Udaipur, Rajasthan. One can reach to the temple either by stairs, starting from Manikyalal Verma Park, or by ropeway.

 

Between the years 1620 and 1628, Maharana Karan Singh developed a residential area at Machla Magra for Udaipur's safety. It was during this time that the Karni Mata Temple was built. Though for a long period the temple was deserted, in 1997 the Shri Manshapurna Karni Mata Development Committee rebuilt it.

 

Alwar

A further temple dedicated to Karni Mata is located in the historical city of Alwar, Rajasthan. It is situated in the heart of city, near the Sagar Palace and Bala Qila.

 

Khurad

Another temple dedicated to Maa Karni is located at Khurad, 12 km NE from Gachhipura in the district of Nagaur, Rajasthan. It is built by the orders of Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner, in the form of fort. As it is very near to marble city Makrana, it is built mainly of white marble.

 

Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple (Hindi: करणी माता मंदिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner, in Rajasthan, India. It is also known as the Temple of Rats.

 

The temple is famous for the approximately 25,000 black rats that live, and are revered, in the temple. These holy rats are considered the ancestors of Charans and called kabbas, and many people travel great distances to pay their respects. The temple draws visitors from across the country for blessings, as well as curious tourists from around the world.

 

The Legend

Legend has it that Laxman, son of Karni Mata , drowned in a pond in Kapil Sarovar in Kolayat Tehsil while he was attempting to drink from it. Karni Mata implored Yama, the god of death, to revive him. First refusing, Yama eventually relented, permitting Laxman and all of Karni Mata's male children to be reincarnated as rats.

 

Eating food that has been nibbled on by the rats is considered to be a "high honour". If one of them is killed, it must be replaced with another one made of solid silver.

 

Architecture

The building was completed in its current form in the early 20th century in the late Rajput architecture by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner.

In front of the temple is a beautiful marble facade, which has solid silver doors built by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Across the doorway are more silver doors with panels depicting the various legends of the Goddess. The image of the Goddess is enshrined in the inner sanctum.

 

White Rats

Out of all of the thousands of rats in the temple, there are a few white rats, which are considered to be especially holy. They are believed to be the manifestations of Karni Mata herself and her four sons. Sighting them is a special blessing and visitors put in extensive efforts to bring them forth, offering prasad, a sweet holy food.

 

Worship and Fair

Worship

The temple is opened to the public early in the morning at 04:00. Charan priests perform Mangla-Aarti and offer bhog (special food) in worship. Devotees make offerings to the rats, which roam about the temple in large numbers and are considered auspicious. Offerings include cheese and sweets. There are also bowls of milk around the temple for the rats to enjoy.

 

There are two kinds of offerings made: the 'dwar-bhent' is attributed to the priests and the workers, while the 'kalash-bhent' is utilized for the temple maintenance and development.

Many worshipers believe the rats' saliva has healing properties and will share food and milk with the rats. A major speaking point for the temple is that it was around before the bubonic plague.

 

Karni Mata Fair

Karni Mata Fair is held twice a year at Deshnoke:

·                     The first and larger fair is held in March–April during the Navratras from Chaitra Shukla Ekam to Chaitra Shukla Dashmi.

·                     The second fair is held in September–October, also during the Navratras, from Ashvin Shukla to Ashwin Shukla Dashmi. 

During Navratri thousands of people make pilgrimage to the temple by foot.

 

In Popular Culture

The temple appeared on the first season of the American reality television series The Amazing Race.

 

Because of its revered rat population, the temple was featured in the 2016 documentary film Rats, directed by Morgan Spurlock.

 

The Temple was also featured in Season 2, Episode 3 of Mighty Trains as a stop on the week-long train route of the Maharajas' Express.